Screening and evaluation of ethanolic extract from Casuarina equisetifolia inflorescence on isolated chick rectum, frog rectum and frog rectus abdominus muscle for identification of muscarinic and nicotinic receptor’s action

The present experiments were undertaken to justify the use of an ethanolic extract from inflorescence of Casuarina equisetifolia, Family: Casuarinaceae, influencing the nicotine responses on isolated chick rectum and frog rectum (Smooth Muscles) and frog rectus abdominus muscle (Skeletal Muscle). The isolated tissues were mounted in organ bath filled with physiological solution and was suitably aerated. After equilibration, responses were taken to different doses of nicotine (log doses) till a ceiling response was obtained. A sub-maximal dose of nicotine was selected and responses to this dose was taken and ensured that there is reproducibility of response. The drum was allowed to move for 1min., different concentrations of extracts into the organ baths were added and allowed to act for 1min without flushing the baths, then the sub-maximal dose of nicotine was added and allowed to act for 1min. this procedure was repeated (without extract) till the original response was obtained. The inference drawn from these experiments, the ethanolic extract of inflorescence of Casuarina equisetifolia antagonised the action of nicotine on isolated chick rectum, relaxed the effect of nicotine on frog rectum and it potentiated the effect of nicotine on frog rectus abdominus muscle. The nicotine receptors of rectus abdominus is activated, perhaps by the prevention of hydrolysis of acetylcholine by the extract. Based on the results obtained from the isolated chick rectum the ethanolic extract is having antinicotinic activity and it may act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as well as muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) on other isolated tissues. The extract might contain ganglionic blocking activity or non-specific activity or membrane stabilising activity also. Keywords: Nicotine, Ethanolic extract, Inflorescence of Casuarina equisetifolia, Isolated Chick Rectum, Isolated Frog Rectum and Isolated Frog Rectus Abdominus Muscle

Single dose oral toxicity study of ethanolic extract from inflorescence of Casuarina equisetifolia in Wistar rats

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the single dose oral toxicity of the ethanolic extract from inflorescence of Casuarina equisetifolia, Family: Casuarinaceae in female Wistar Rats. The acute toxicity study was carried out based on Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Test Guideline 423. However, this plant safety evaluation data was not available so, selected the starting dose from 300 mg/kg body weight. The animals were orally administered a single dose of 300 mg/kg body weight and followed by 2000 mg/kg body weight in next step. Signs of toxicity and mortality were observed after 30 min, 1, 2, 4 and 24h of administration of the extract and once daily for 14 days. There was no mortality in the tested animals and no abnormal clinical signs were observed related to test item. No abnormalities were detected in gross pathology observations in all the rats at both the dose levels. Based on observations of the present study, it can be concluded that the LD50 of ethanolic extract from inflorescence of Casuarina equisetifolia is greater than 2000mg/kg body weight and can be classified as Category 5; however, further studies are needed to confirm long term toxicities. Keywords: Acute oral toxicity, ethanolic extract from inflorescence of Casuarina equisetifolia, LD50, OECD Test Guideline, Wistar Rat

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

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